On Saturday evening, after being contacted by a number of clubs, the Northern Premier League (NPL) announced that playing league fixtures on Boxing Day 26th December and New Year’s Day 1st January would now be optional.

I have had long telephone conversations with the Chairmen of Stalybridge Celtic, Rob Gorski, and Buxton, Dave Hopkins, and we all agreed that holding our festive derby games with a limit of 300 home supporters, no social club, no sponsorship packages or other match day income, could only generate losses for our clubs, and that these games would be better postponed until games can be played in more normal conditions with supporters from both sides able to attend.

The board is also conscious that with the new strain of the virus already appearing in the north of the country, there is every likelihood that further lockdowns may well be imposed in the new year, making completion of the season in its current format highly unlikely.

It is therefore with regret that we have taken the decision not to play our games over the festive season, and our home match against Buxton on New Year’s Day has therefore been postponed. Our away match at Stalybridge Celtic on Boxing Day has also been postponed, and Buxton have postponed their Boxing Day fixture against Matlock Town, again with the agreement of both clubs. Most of the other fixtures in our division have also been postponed.

The decision has not been taken lightly, but the Directors are conscious that we are only the current custodians of our wonderful football club with its 135 year history, and it would be irresponsible of us to deliberately lose money in this time of great uncertainty.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has given up their time over the past year to help in running this great club, to thank the players, management team and backroom staff for giving the quality of football enjoyed by us all, and to thank the supporters for following the team home and away, and particularly in supporting our fundraising activities throughout the lockdown periods. You are all very special. I wish you all a happy Christmas.

Steve Hartley, Chairman, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Hyde United

Following yet another statement from the NPL Management Committee on Friday (19th) regarding  a return to fixtures, our respective matches at Stalybridge Celtic on Boxing Day and at Home to Buxton on New Year’s Day will NOT go ahead. This Club will be issuing a fuller statement regarding this shortly.  

In the meantime, the First Team will now play a practice match friendly at the Ewen Fields Stadium v Matlock Town on Tuesday 22nd December, 7.45pm kick off.

The FA has recently received approval from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) for a limited return of home spectators to be permitted at clubs competing in the National League System (NLS) Steps 3 to 6 situated in Tier 3 areas. This is limited to 15% of minimum capacity guidelines for the Step playing (Step 3 equivalent restricted to 300).

We are not making a formal charge for admittance, but we would please ask you to make a  donation on entry, which will be allocated to the Hyde United Community Fund that helps to support community events such as the annual senior citizens’ party and Junior tournaments etc, which we hope will re-commence in earnest in 2021.

All those attending will be counted in and must register via the QR posters or leave name & contact number for track and trace purposes. Per the guidance, existing social distancing rules must be adhered to by all those present. 

The Social Club has to remain closed per the Government Tier 3 instructions.

On Tuesday this week the League Management Committee of the Northern Premier League (NPL) announced that full fixtures would recommence from 26 December. Two weeks earlier over three quarters of the clubs in the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues (Steps 3 and 4 in the non-league football pyramid) voted to suspend football at least until the new Tiers were announced, expected on Wednesday this week, but actually announced on Thursday. There was also a show of solidarity from the three Leagues in an attempt to persuade government to make the allocation of the £14 million support to be provided for clubs at steps 3 to 6 in the form of grants rather than loans.

In the NPL the majority of clubs were in Tier 3, which at that time had a ban on spectator attendance. Social clubs and refreshment huts also had to remain closed in many places, resulting in the loss of major income sources for many clubs. By suspending football, clubs could take advantage of the Government’s furlough scheme, and reduce outgoings to a minimum, to help them to survive the pandemic.

A week ago, it was announced that clubs in Tier 3 areas were permitted to have the number of spectators equivalent to 15% of the ground grading requirement for their leagues. For the NPL this equated to 300 in our division and 200 in the divisions below. At Tier 2 clubs could have 600 or 400 spectators respectively.

In the opinion of the Hyde United board, the NPL acted hastily and without due consultation in announcing a return to football from Boxing Day, apparently at the request of many clubs but before the Tier changes were announced. Whether or not this was in expectation of many areas changing from Tier 3 to Tier 2 is unknown, but it was not in accordance with the previous resolution of clubs. After the Government announcement yesterday, many clubs sadly still find themselves in Tier 3 areas and therefore deprived of their major income sources. To make matters worse, Staffordshire Council has today banned spectators from all non-league games, and therefore not followed the advice of the FA and Government.

NPL clubs in Tier 3 can therefore look forward to Boxing Day games with 300 home supporters (away supporters are not allowed to attend), mainly season ticket holders so no new income, and no other sources of income. We believe the derby games should be postponed until normal attendances with refreshments can be attained.

The Southern League and Isthmian League have suspended fixtures until at least 9 January, and we believe the NPL should do the same. We and other clubs have written to the League asking them to reconsider their decision to resume football, which is financial suicide for some clubs.

Until any change to the decision is announced, we have to prepare for our game on 26 December, and have therefore arranged our friendly with Glossop to get some match fitness.

We all want to return to playing football, but only when it is financially viable and safe to do so.

In the meantime, we hope all our supporters have as good a Christmas as they are able, and that 2021 will be a better year than 2020 has been.

Steve Hartley, Chairman, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Hyde United

Today we spoke to both Academy players who have signed on with the first team, Carter Waters and Cameron Fogerty.

Speaking of how he got into football at an early age and how he eventually joined the the Academy in pre-season 2019/20, Carter said “I started my junior football at Brockland Dragons at under 9s through to the under 14s, from there I progressed to Broadheath Central under 15s. Then my mum contacted someone at Rochdale EDS and I was able to get me a place here.” Carter beleives joining the Academy has helped him develop so much more as a player and person, and is grateful for the opportunity.

Carter then went onto talk about the teams recent run in the FA Youth Cup, saying he was “so proud of the whole team in progressing into the First Round Proper, after winning the initial preliminary round and then three qualifying rounds.” But gutted to have gone out on penalties away to Tranmere Rovers, saying it was not the best way to have gone out.

On signing for the first team, Carter continued “I’m chuffed, honestly, very chuffed, and so proud of myself. My plan is to just progress and keep on pushing and developing into a better player.” Carter beleives the help he has had from his family and the players around him, have helped Carter immensely, but says, more importantly, he couldn’t have done that without the support and help he has received from the Academy staff, who have made him into the player he is, saying it has been an amazing journey.

 

Cameron told us how he started his football journey, saying “I started off at Bridge Colts, my local team, then I had a couple of trials at academys, United and Blackburn. I moved to Avro, which is local to here, after playing well there I got signed for Oldham under 12s, where I stayed through to under 15s. After getting released by Oldham I joined the Academy here at under 16s, and stayed on to do the full time education and scholarhsip.” Cameron says he has loved being at the Academy, and getting to know everyone after joining the under 16s very late and explained that he thinks over the last 16 months, they have done really well as a team and all developed so much.

On the FA Youth Cup run, Cameron said “The most emotional game for me was the Stockport County game in the third qualifying round, when we scored in the 96th minute to win. The Runcorn Linnetts game was different, a tough one, we had never played a night game. Against Southport here, we dominated, that was good, but I think the Stockport game was the best one in the qualifying rounds.” On the First Round game away to Tranmere, Cameron said it was a good experience on a good pitch, but was gutted to go out as they did.

On signing for the first team, Cameron is looking forward to getting into training with the First Team and to get involved in some match day squads to hopefully become a regular, to see how far he can go.

On his time at the Academy, Cameron has been trained by a number of coaches, who all know the game and have played at different levels themselves. He beleives they have helped him massively and are there everyday for him. On closing Cameron said “The facilities are greate and the pitch is massive, and we get what we need to help us develop as players.”

 

Below is the latest update we have from the League with regards returning to football to continue the 2020-21 season.

“The Trident Leagues (the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Football Leagues) welcome the decision to allow some fans into grounds situated in Tier 3 areas.

However, in light of the decision of all 224 Clubs only last week to vote overwhelmingly in favour of suspending the current season the Leagues have decided to wait to see the implications of the Government’s review of the Tier system in England – due next Wednesday – before making any further announcements.” 

We wait to hear what the Government update is this coming Wednesday and any further update from the League.

As soon as we have anything new, it will be posted here first.

 

The first team management have today brought in two players from the Youth squad to the First Team.

The youth team go from strength to strength, and only narrowly exited the FA Youth Cup, in a First Round Proper fixture, away to Tranmere Rovers. Holding Tranmere to a 0-0 draw after extra time, they went out on penalties. A performance that they can be proud of, that after an injury time winner in one of the previous rounds at home to Stockport County, where they were trailing by a goal in the game.

Those impressive performances were noticed by many at Hyde United, as well as the management team. A number of the players impressed both Dave and John, and has resulted in two call ups to the first team.

From the Gaffer

Carter and Cam have signed forms and I’m hoping they are the first of many. It’s testament to the work that’s going on in the Academy that they continue to produce players, analysts and coaches that are moving into part time clubs and then the professional game. They were unlucky to lose in the Youth Cup but the sliver lining is that we can now involve these boys.

From EDS Acadmey Manager – Brett Issitt

I am delighted with the development of all our players, their pathway and their future as we have always ensured that the player centred delivery is of the utmost importance.

The two football clubs, Rochdale AFC and Hyde United FC have formed a partnership that has seen young men become players across the globe, progress into paid football and represent our two fantastic clubs with pride.

The current players, who played at Prenton Park in the FA Youth Cup first round, have shown what can be achieved when their attitude, application and ability have been allowed to flourish. This has been achieved through hours of work delivered by parents, coaches, medical staff, mental health staff, back room staff, management & directors and we are lucky to have amazing people supporting these players.

We have produced many players over the years that needed a little more time to grow and this year has been outstanding too. Ethan Pye moving into the youth team at Rochdale AFC and Cameron Fogerty, Ollie Grey and Jack Bailey being involved in the matchday squad for the same team has shown amazing strength.

Now I am delighted that two of the players have signed first team forms with us too. Cameron Fogerty and Carter Warters have shown a desire and dedication to move onto the next level.

This is why we are the best at producing young men and players for their own pathway and future, for their families and for our community. One of the greatest parts of my job is working within the community at Hyde, Rochdale and the surrounding regions to ensure we can give back, through sport and education, to local people who have supported us for years.

Good luck to Dave and the team at Marine and congratulations to Cameron and Carter at the start of a new journey for their future.

 

 

Due to heavy rain overnight that is continuing today, our FA Trophy First Round game away to Marine is off.

The fixture will now be played this Saturday 12th December with kick-off being 3pm.

PRESS RELEASE by the Trident Leagues

Following the statement issued by the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Football Leagues yesterday, further clarification can now be given in relation to the voting following the Zoom meetings held by all 3 Trident Leagues with their Member Clubs to discuss the impact of the raising of the lockdown on 2^nd December.

There were 224 Clubs voting across the 3 Leagues and of these 172 agreed with the proposition to continue the pause in fixtures, 51 disagreed and there was 1 abstention.  Broken down by League, 57 Clubs in the Northern Premier League voted to agree with 4 disagreeing, 68 Clubs in the Southern League agreed with 14 disagreeing and in the Isthmian League it was much closer with 47 Clubs agreeing, 33 disagreeing and 1 abstention.

The “Agree” vote was therefore 76% and it has been agreed that the three Leagues will not sanction fixtures at this time.

It is intended that the situation is kept under review in line with Government review on the Tier allocations and restrictions. Accordingly, the next review is set for 16 December and then 30 December. It is the hope of all the Leagues that a date in January can be set for a return to  fixtures with Clubs who wish being allowed to play before that date but this will not be until there is a change in the Tiers and/or some progress in the funding of the Clubs at this level.

The Government has allocated £25m to Sport England to fund Steps 1 to 6 of the National Leagues System, of which £14m is set for Steps 3-6 but is heavily weighted in favour of loans, not grants. The FA is working tirelessly with DCMS and Sport England to have the funding presented as Grants. However, these negotiations take time, and it is not expected to have an answer or clarification of details of even the loans until mid-January.

The deep concern of all involved in the NLS is that circumstances may mean that it is not possible to conclude the current format of competition in a manner in which promotion and relegation can be achieved throughout the whole pyramid with Step 2 being brought up to 48 Clubs and Step 4 brought up to 240 Clubs.

If, therefore, no progress is made by the Government on the Tiers in either of the two December reviews, it is the intention of the Alliance Committee to circulate those concerned with a survey to gather the views of the Clubs as how best to finish the season. Options will include an alternative format competition and extending the season possibly into June 2021. However the implications of all such proposals will involve the cost of players contracts and the ability of some clubs to continue playing because of other issues of grounds and the need to prepare grass pitches for the following season.

The Leagues are mindful of the needs of all Clubs and are striving to find a solution which is fair to all.